Ref in Rowley firing line over heavy defeat
FORRES Mechanics manager Charlie Rowley admitted his side were well beaten by a Brora Rangers side who moved three points clear at the Highland League summit with a 6-0 victory over the Can-Cans.
However, Rowley felt the performance of referee Graham Fraser contributed to the severity of the defeat at Dudgeon Park on Saturday.
With the score at 2-0, Fraser reduced Mechanics to 10 men just before half-time with midfielder Ross MacPherson sent off for a second booking, leaving the Cattachs to take full advantage by scoring four times in the second half.
Rowley said: "We didn’t deserve anything out of the game in terms of our performance levels, we were well beaten by the best team in the Highland League right now. They were the best team we’ve played in the Highland League for a long spell. It was a quite formidable 6-0 scoreline but it was really harsh on my team.
"Outside influences had a major impact in the game. Although the referee’s performance didn’t cause us to lose the game, it was 100% a major cause of the scoreline. It’s an ongoing factor, and this official in particular seems to be a factor in Mechanics games. It’s happened on a number of occasions, and it’s really hard to take his performance.
"I think we’ve got to try and take the positives out of it, we had a few carrying flu viruses and such-like, so we were not at full strength, but that was not the reason for the defeat. We still have a lot to play for this season, the League Cup draw is this week. We will try and put this one to bed quickly as possible. The players are aware of the referee’s performance and shouldn’t be too down about the game."
Rowley was pleased to welcome Ross Archibald back from a knee injury which has kept him out since September, with the forward replacing Kris Duncan and playing the final 22 minutes of the match.
However, Rowley insists it could be next season before fellow attacker Andy Fraser, also sidelined with a knee injury, makes a return.
Rowley added: "One of the big positives of the day was being able to bring Ross Archibald on for some game-time. Given the scoreline at the time, it was important we tried to get Ross in particular on the pitch, for his first competitive action in two or three months. It’s a start for him in terms of what he is looking for to get back to fitness. We will work on him over the next week to ten days or so, we have a friendly arranged next Tuesday so will give him a run out then.
"Andy Fraser is meeting specialist next week to get some clarification on what the scan showed up. We have moved on with him and got him doing some light training. He’s feeling after a bit of stiffness after harder sessions, so he’s going gently just now. In the case of Andy it’s a view to next year. We are hoping to have him back before the end of the season, but we won’t be pushing it."
Brora took the lead on 40 minutes from the penalty spot, as Graham Fraser brought down Steven Mackay, with Zander Sutherland applying the finish from 12 yards. Three minutes later, Mackay tapped the ball home from point-blank range to double Brora’s lead.
Forres’ luck went from bad to worse on the stroke of half-time, as midfielder Ross MacPherson was shown a second yellow card.
Brora capitalised by scoring a third nine minutes into the second-half, with Ross Tokely getting on the end of a corner to power the ball home.
Sutherland bagged his second with a fine shot across Stuart Knight’s goal, before Mackay added a fifth when he closed down Knight as he tried to clear the ball, and the ball rebounded into the net.
Martin Maclean applied the finish for Brora’s sixth goal, two minutes into stoppage time.
Forres: Stuart Knight, Ryan MacKintosh, Stephen Fraser, Duncan Jones (Craig McGovern 68), Graham Fraser, Ross MacPherson, Stuart Soane, Kris Duncan (Ross Archibald 68), Lee Fraser (Ross Patterson 87), Kyle Scott, Paul Smith.
Referee: Graham Fraser.